Stereoblique plotter



July 24, 1951 J. G, LEWIS ET AL,

STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER 8 Sheets-Sheei l Filed Jan. l0, 1945 l .INVENTORS JWM/E5 6. Lew/5 90g l 4a/w55 @5am/Mm TE@ July 24,1951 J. G. Ll-:wrs ETAL STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER 8 Sheets-Sheet' I5 Filed Jan. lO, 1945 mfw @5%.

w55 M M www J. G. LEWIS ET AL `I uy 24, 1951 STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER Y' sheets-sheet 4 Filed Jan. 10, 1945 ITF-"HI 11AM- l 0.3

Inil JAN/E5 G. L E w/S 9%, JAMES .BacK/wAs-rf/e INVENTOR- ATTORNEY ATTORNEY 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 JAM/55 (Slew/,5 Y@ JAMES l. Bac/(MHSTER INVENTOR5 mus J G LEWIS ETAL STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER x 5 4 w l 5 QQ o w 1 y n. d. a 2 J A MAW w. m h n July 24, 1951 J. G. I Ewls ET AL STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jn. lO, 1945 b JAMES L. UCKMASrf/P JAA/155 G. Ew/5 NNN NNf n @nu INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 24, 1951 J. G. LEWIS ET AL STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER Filed Jan. 1o, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 w3 Qi mM QS..

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R m w m C U N JAMES G. EW/5 INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 24, 1951 J. G. L Ewls ET AL STEREOBLIQUE PLOTTER 8 sheets-sheet 8 Filed Jan. lO, 1945 Patented July 24, 1951 2,561,356 sTEnEoBLIQUE PLor'rER James G. Lewis, Siloam, Ga., and James L. Buckmaster, Arlington, Va., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior Application January 10, 1945, Serial No. 572,202v

(Granted under the act o! March 3, 1883', as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 7 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

Our invention provides a means for plotting rectified planimetrie maps directly from oblique aerial photographs, two of said photographs being used which embrace over-lapping terrain. 'Ihe aerial photographs commonly used for this purpose are taken from aircraft along flight lines, the photographic records of each flight containing many overlapping photographs.

The photographs of each night are divided into groups of two which include common image points. These are analyzed, then common image points are selected and marked for easy identification on the prints. By the use of successive groups of photographs the entire area is mapped. By mechanism, hereinafter described, the various photographs in perspective or direct views, are translated to a common view point and then drawn on a map.

In the accompanying drawings:

4, but through another one of our plvotedv bearings. g

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic plan view, with parts omitted for clearness, showing the arrangement of two photographs and the resultant rectiiled lines produced on a plotting Sheet.

Figure 1 is a plan view of our stereoblique Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal enlarged g' detailed sectional view through one of our pivotal bearings and associated parts.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through another pivoted bearing on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2 showing means for adj'ustably locking certain members shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 Iis an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on line 1--1 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail side elevation of two plotting arms with a slidable carriage mounted thereon.

Figure 9 is a detail elevation, partly in section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure l0 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the wandering line phenomenon of our plotter as seen through our stereoscope.

Figure ll is a front elevation of our improved stereoscope shown in plan view in Figure l.

, Figure 12 is a side elevation of our stereoscope shown in Figure 1l.

Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal enlarged detailed section similar to the section Of Figure Our plotting device is adapted to rest upon and be manually moved over a base 2| upon which a plotting sheet 22 is placed. A lower support plate 23 (Fig. 2) is yprovided with aplurality of suitably spaced feet 24 and 25 on which our device rests. v

Referring to Figure 4: A bearing retainer'26 projects through an aperture in the plate 23 for the reception of a ball bearing assembly 21, said retainer being secured to the base plate 23 by screws 28 or the like. A nut 29 secures a hollow bearing shaft 30 in the assembly 21 and provides a clamping means for a plotting arm plate 3l which surrounds the bearing shaft 30 below an enlargement 32 formed on the shaft 30.

Upper and lower link members 33, 34 are ro'- tatably mounted .upon the enlargement 32, and are held in alignment by a nut 35 on threads above the enlargement 32. Between the link members 33 and 34 is an'adjusting arm 36 (Fig. 7) having a clamping collar 31 surrounding the enlarged portion 32. A clamping collar 31 is provided with a clamping screw 38 by means of which the links 33 and 34 are clamped in an approximate desired angular relation to the shaft 30; then a iiner adjustment is obtained between an outer end 39 of the adjusting arm 36 and our links 33, 34 by means of a tangent screw 40, threaded into a spacer block 4| and a spring pressed plunger 42 housed Iin a second spacer block 43. Both spacer blocks 4| and 43 are secured between and to the links 33, 34. The links 33, 34 are also provided with pivotal bearings 44 and 45 to receive ,stud shafts 46 and 41 mounted. on a collar 48 which form a pivotal point for a slotted link` assembly 49 having portions transverse oi the slot for bearings 50, 5l and 52 for a knurled adjusting screw. 53. A collar 54 is vpinned to a reduced end portion of the screw 53 to secure the latter against longitudinal movement. The collar 48 has a smooth bore which enables it to be assembled between bearings 51 and 52, on the unthreaded portion of the screw 53. n l

A threaded sleeve 55 is assembled Valong'the threaded portion ofthe screw 53 and carriesa pointer 56 adapted to indicate a desired reading on a graduated scale 51 along the .upper facel of the link 49 (Fig. 2,). The graduations of the scale` 51 represent .template settings corresponding to degrees of tilt, for use in conjunction with the pointer 56 for setting our instrument to correspond* with the measured "tilt value of'r an oblique aerial photograph. 'Ihe sleeve v55 also supports on its upper face a pivotal bearing 58:

The outermost end of the link 49 is Provided with a downwardly projecting roller fbearing=59 which travels between xed guide rails 69 that are rigidly secured to the base plate 29, thus restricting travel of the roller'beari'ng 59 along a xed line perpendicular to` the axis of the shaft 30.

4 |95 for a bearing shaft |05 is supported in the retainer |59. The bearing shaft |06 has a flange 'l'll'ffpioviding abutments. A' spacing collar |98 and an armI |89 are rigidly clamped byl a nut I l0. A lower link member I, an adjusting arm I I2 Aand an upper link member ||3 are rotatably mountedv above the flange |91 on the shaft |86,

An intermediate lplate 6| provided with marginal scale graduations 95 for supporting1 a photograph 62 (Fig. 1) is connected to the lower support plate :23 by means of spacer blocks 63, 64, 65. 1

The graduations 95 are laid oi'in `inches and washer i6. The ball bearing assemblies 13, 14 of the'hollow bearing shaft 69 are mounted on an upper reduced portion 11 of the hollow shaft 36, thereby permitting adjustments of the mechanism carried by the lower hollow shaft 39 and the upper hollow shaft 69 independently of each other. Provision is made for taking up lost motion between the linkages by a radially extending pin 18 in the shaft enlargement 1l) to which a tension spring 94 may be attached and extend to a like lpin |44 mountedv in ra corresponding assembly shown in detail in Figure 13.

- .An upper plate 19 having marginal graduations -Bvsupports a photograph 8|] (Fig. l) corresponds to,Y andv is mounted above the plates I, to the right yof the center line of our device and is separated from the plate 6I by suitable spacers 3| and 82 (Figs. 4,12 and 13). A transparent vblade 83 having. on its lower face a longitudinal. hairline 84 (Fig. 1) is clamped against an annular spacer 85 (Fig. 4) by la clamping sleeve 86 in which is mounted a lens 81. The blade 83 is oscillated yby movements of the hollow shaft 59. The hollow shaft 30 is closed by a downwardly protruding transparent plug SS, of suitable material, and has a central indentation 89 to assist in centering the axis of the shaft 30 over a selected mark N upon a mapping sheet. An arm 9) .provided with a longitudinal slot 9| is fastened by screws 92 to the. enlargement 10 which also secure the retainer washer 16 for the ball bearing assemblies 13 and 14. Motion is transmitted throughA a plotting arm 93, rigidly secured to the plate 3|, to the hol-low shaft 39 and the linkages associated therewith to the pivotal bearing 58 in the slot 9| and by means of the arm 9|] and the hollow shaft .69- to the blade 83.

.se-t shoulder .and a'. terrninal thread for a nut |.|l3.which retains a radial link [|14 freely mounted about the portion |82. A ball bearing assembly together with spacing washers ||4 and H5 and are held in adjustment by a nut on terminal threads on the shaft |86. The adjusting arm I |2 is provided with a clamping collar ||1 and a clamping screw Ii. An outer end ||9 of the adjusting arm I l2 is-:held in position by a tangent screw |29 identical with 49 (Fig. 7) which discloses an identical means for securing a ne adjustment. `The links ||I and I |3 are also .provided with pivotal bearings |2| and |22 to receive stud shafts |23 and |24r-mounted on a collar |25 on Aa knurled adjusting screw |28. The adjusting screw |26 is carried by a slotted link |21 marked with a scale I 21a identical with 51 on link 49 and is shown in plan view at the left in Figure 2. A threaded sleeve |28 on the yadjusting screw |26 is provided with a pointer |29 and an upwardly extending pivotal bearing |38. `A `collar |3| is pinned to a reduced end portion of the screw |26 to secure the latter against longitudinal movement. A downwardly projecting roller bearing |52 travels between xed guide rails |33 rigidly secured toV the base plate 23, thus restricting travel along a fixed line perpendicular tothe axis of the shaft |86. f

Mounted upon an upper portion |34 of the shaft |06 area ball bearing assembly |35, a ring spacer |35, a second ball bearing assembly |31, and a retainer washer |38, the latter being rigidly secured to a hollow enlarged portion |39 of a shaft |69 by screws IM. The screws i4! also fasten to the shaft enlargement |39 an arm |42 having a longitudinal slot |43. vrA pin |44 extends laterally from the shaft enlargement |39 and provides means for attaching the tension spring 94. Abearing retainer M5 is secured to the underside of the intermediate support plate 6| by screws |46. A ballbearing assembly |41 in the bearing retainer |45 is mounted on the shaft |46 and is retained by a lock nut |48. A transparent blade |49 provided on its underside with a longitudinalhairline |50 is clamped on the shaft |48 against the lock nut |48 by a washer |5| and cap nut |52.

Referring to Figures 3, 5, 6 and 13: On the free end of the radial link |04 is an offset extension |53 fastened thereto by screws |54. The extension |53 is provided with an aperture into which a ball bearing assembly |55 is pressed. A hollow floating shaft |56 has an. integral head |51. A transparent plug |85 is forced into the shaft |56 and is provided with a centering identation |86. The shaft |56 is forcedinto the ball bearing assembly |55. A washer |58, an arm |55, a spacer |60 and a plate |6| are mounted on the movable shaft |56 and are clamped thereto -by means of a nut |62. l

Thev arms |99 and |59 (Fig. 3) are pivotally connected at |63 and |64 to a link |65 and at |86 and |56 toy the radial link I 84, thus forming a parallelogram. This parallelogram may be swung vabout the shaft |06, except when one of the links is held against moving as described hereafter. To the radial link |94 is rigidly *secured an upwardly extending lug Spacer |66. A

` clamping link |61 is securedby ascrew |68. to

passes downwardly through a bore in the spacer block 63 (Fig. 6) and into the link |61. A knurled nut onithe screw |69 draws the yclamping linky |61 against the extension |53 of the radial link |04, and also draws the lug spacer |66 'against the support plate 23 thereby holding the link |04 against movement relative to the support plate 23, and restricting the movement of the remaining links of the parallelogram to arcuate movements on the pivots |06 ,andr |55. A slotted end of a plotting arm v|1I is rigidly secured to the plate |6I. Referring to Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9: A plotting carriage |12 is formed of an upper member |13 and a lower member |14 which are pivotally united by a hollow sleeve |15. The members 13 and |14 are provided with grooves for slidably engaging the plotting arms 93 and |1|. The lower member |14 is provided with ball rollers |16. Slidably mounted in the hollow sleeve |15 isa lead holding barrel |11 provided on its lower end with a clutch |18 for a marking lead` |19. Ihe upper end of the barrel |11 is threaded into a control knob |00 which is supported by a compression spring I8| thereby holding the lead |19 out of contact with a mapping sheet. A stylus |82 is provided within the barrel |11 as a convenient means for feeding the lead |19 as it is worn away. The outer end of the plotting arm 93 is provided with a bracket |83 secured thereto on which is mounted a supporting wheel |84.`

Referring to our stereoscope 200 shown in Figures 1, 11 and l2: A base pedestal 20| is mounted in apertures in the upperl photograph support 119 and the intermediate plate 6|v by means of a threaded extension into the foot 25; The pedestal 20| supports a horizontal adjusting yarm 202 by a clamping screw 203. The arm 202 is provided with a clamping collar ,204 which in turn supports a vertical adjusting rod 205. The rod 205 is secured in position by a clamping screw 2,06. The rod 205 is provided with a block 201 mounted between angle brackets 208 by a clamping screw 209. The brackets 208 support a plate 2I0 by means of screws 2| An arm 2|2 Vextends rearwardly from the plate 2|0 and is provided with a balancing weight 2|3. Right and left mirrors 2| 4 and 2| 5 are secured to the outermost ends of the plate 2|0 by angles 216 and 2 1 and screws 2I8. The mirrors 2|4 and 27|5 r are silvered on their under sides instead ofon their rear faces to eliminate the passage of light through the glass plates. Right and left-hand vblocks 2|9 and 220 are pivotallly attached to the plate 2|0 by horizontally located screws 22|, and support eye pieces 222 and 223 having ad justing arms 24 and 225 which are in turn pivotally attached to the blocks 2|9 and 229 by ver- 'tically located screws 226.

Right and left-hand lenses 221 and 228 are ymounted on prisms 229 and 230 so as to be sighted through the eye pieces 222 and 223.

ing that by its use the eyes of the observer are in effect placed at the respective position'sS'and SI. GA and GI-A are the hairl-ins 84 and |fof 'the plotter. Points A are identical images' onAthese lines, thus having the same object X inA the stereoscopic image, and on this setting are the only such identical points on the hair-' lines 84 and |50. XY is the stereoscopic image of the swinging hairlines 84 or |50, the lines appearing vertical for a short distance and separating in the air above ground. NX and NI-X arehorizontal direction lines from the ground nad'irs N and Nl to the object X and are the rectiedv'radials GA and GI-A.

l In a 'reconnaissance mapping program in which three-lens or trimetrigon photography is used, the photographs aretaken along parallel flight stripsy and spaced approximately twenty-v ve miles apart. Thus, each exposure station will furnish three photographs of the surrounding area, one looking to the right, one to the left, and one directly downward. The photographs to the right and left o'f the plane are commonly called obliques. The present invention is used to obtain a planimetrie map of the area covered by the oblique photographs. A short description is given of the preliminary steps in trimetrigon mapping in order to show the object and use of the present invention. As the first step, the photographs of a particular flight strip are examined and common image points Alocated throughout the flight strip. The photographs are then analyzed for tilt and azimuth lines are drawn between' successive Vertical photographs. The lphoto-arigulator (Patent 2,364,082, James G. Lewis, December 5, 1944) is then used to draft common direction lines on transparent sheets of paper, these lines originating from the point di` 'rectly beneath the plane at the instant of exposure. These paper templet sheets are made for each exposure station throughout the iiight strip and also for all parallel night strips in the area to be mapped. Later, a metal reproduction using thin slotted metal strips is made for each of the paper templets. The metal templets are then assembled over a layout table on which has been placed the sheet to be used for mapping. The templets are joined in correct squence, being 'fixed to points or known geographic position and 'thus a position is determined for each point selected on the photographs. The centers of the 'metal' templets will represent the ground nadir points throughout the flight strip. These points and all other intersecting points are marked on the 'map sheet which is then cut into strips along lines connecting successive ground nadir points. Each individual strip will be placed under the "present instrument for drawing the planimetric map.

The rst two oblique photographs and 62 'whose points occur on the mapping sheet are selected for use in the instrument. A photograph 80 bearing marginal marks 80a parallel to the true horizon of the photograph is placed ony the right photograph support 19 under the transparent blade 83 and positioned thereon relative to the inscribed scale on support 19 and is also so located that the principal point Pl is under the hairline 84 at a distance from the center of the shaft 30 equal to the focal length of the camera used, divided by the tan"- 'gent of the depression angle of theV photograph 80. The distances for various focal lengths and is 'loosened to 2,- 4 andv '7) Vfrom-beneath the right photograph plate 19. The adjusting` screw 53 is turned to align the pointer 56 with a graduationv on the scale 51 which corresponds to the tilt or depression angle of the oblique photograph 88. The left linkage (Figs. 13, 5, 6 and 7) is adjusted to the tilt of the photograph 62 by a corresponding operation of the adjusting screw |26 and pointer |29 on the link |21. The mapping sheet 22 is positioned under the instrument, with the first ground nadir point N under the indentation 89 of the transparent plug 88 in the shaft 38 of the instrument, and the second nadir point N| under the. indentation |88 of the transparent plug |85 in the movable shaft |56, an adjustment of the shaft |56 being made, if necessary. The plotting pencil |19 is set on one of the previously established map points, for example, A|, the image of which occurs on photograph 88. The linkage is so adjusted that the hairline 84 on the right blade 83 is set over this point A at the same time that the plotting pencil |19 is set on its corresponding position Al on the mapping sheet 22. The linkage is then locked in this position by means of the shaft clamping screw 38 and a critical adjustment by means of the tangent screw 48 serves to bring the hairline 84 exactly over the point A. The plotting pencil |19 is then moved to other points on photograph 88 and the position of the blade 83 relative to these points is checked. A corresponding adjustment is made for the photograph 62 and the hairline |58. The plotting pencil |19 is set over the point A which also appears on photograph 62. the hairline |58 on the left blade |49 falls over the point A and the linkage is locked. O-ther points on photograph 62 are likewise checked for accuracy. In this manner each photograph is oriented correctly with respect to the control points on the sheet 22. Since the hollow shaft |56 is movable only in an arc, the mapping sheet 22 must be rotated about the first nadir point N in order to bring the second nadir point Nl in co-incidence with the indentation |88 in the plug |95 which thereby determines the position of the axis of the movable shaft |56. The stereoscope 28|) is now to be adjusted in order to allow three dimensional viewing of the common area covered by the two photographs. In order to accomplish this, the two adjusting arms 224, 225 are moved horizontally and vertically, thus causing the virtual image of the two' photographs 88, 82 to be moved in space so as to bring each into a correct relative position with respect Yto the two eyes of the observer. When this is accomplished a spacial image is observed which is commensurate with the clearness of the photographs. In the area viewed the virtual image of the two lines 84, |58 on the transparent 'blades 83, |89 form a vertical pointer XY vwhich simulates piercing the ground at a denite point (see Fig. The position of this point is represented in map form by the position of the plotting pencil |19. As the operator looks through the stereoscope 280 and moves the plotting pencil |19, this' wandering line will appear to move through the area observed, and thus can be used as a guide to follow whatever features are to be mapped. For example: If a shore line is to be drawn, the operator moves the plot- 'ting carriage |12 carrying the plotting pencil |19 in its released position so thatno line is drawn, until the wandering 1ine-or pointer XY intersects the shore line at the desired starting The left linkage is adjusted so that position. The spring released knob |88 and pencil |19 are then pressed down and the carriage |12 is moved to cause the virtual image or pointer to follow the shore line. Y

In this manner a planimetrie map is made of the area covered by photographs 88 and 62. The photographs are then removed and photograph 62- is placed on the plate 19 previously occupied by photograph 88 and a third photograph is placed on the left plate 8|. The plotting sheet 22 is slid under the instrument until the second ground nadir point Nl isunder the stationary shaft 38 and the third ground nadir point N2 is under the movable shaft |56. An orientation of each of these photographs is made to the control point on the mapping sheet 22 and the area mapped in the manner described for the photographs 88 and 62.. This procedure is repeated until all the photographs havebeen used throughout the flight strip and a planimetrie map made of the area. A

If the area to be mapped is covered by several adjoining strips,l the photographs of each are treated in a similar fashion and the physical and cultural features are joined up so as to make a complete map of the area.

Stereoscope adjustment The stereoscope 288 is moved forward or backward and turned to the right or left until the large mirrors 2 I4 and 2|5 are approximately over the centers of the respective photographs.

The right prism 229 is adjusted by looking to the left edge of the eld of view and rotating the right prism 229 in the horizontal plane, by means of the adjusting arm 224 so as to eliminate y parallax in the left side of View. The left prism 238 is adjusted by looking to the right side of the field and rotating the left prism 238 by means of the adjusting arm 225 to eliminate y parallax in the right side of view.

Theright and left adjustments are repeated if necessary to bring common images on a line parallel to the eye base. The conveyance is adjusted to suit the eye by rotating the prisms 229 and 23,8

by means of the rams 224 and 225 in the vertical plane. The stereoscope is tilted forward or backward to look from the foreground to background, by releasing the clamp 289 and rocking the arm 2|2 to the desired adjustment.

The above adjustments should give a stereoscopic image commensurate with the clearness of the photographs.

On looking through the stereoscope at the imz age the two hairlines on the blades or sensing members 83 and |89 appear as a vertical line piercing the earth at some point in the area observed, which point is represented on the map by the position of the drawing element |19. As the drawing element |19 is moved about over the mapping sheet 22 the vertical line is seen to move on the landscape and is used as a pointer to follow features it is desired to map.

A more detailed description of the mechanical linkage for the projection of nadir radials is given in Patent 2,364,082, December 5, 1944, James G. Lewis (one of the joint inventors). Said prior invention provides an apparatus and method for plotting rectified nad-ir radials by intersecting lines; whereas the present device mechanically projects an innite number of nadir radials and draws continuous lines while the hairlinesv are being moved so as to intersect corresponding lines on. the two photographsto draw continuous lines on a mapping sheet.V

t should be understoodthat the present Idis-, closure is for the,l purpose of illustrationonly, and that the inventionincludes allfmodications and equivalents which yfall within the spirit and scope of the appended claimsin `whiclinit is .our intention to claim all novelty inherent in our invention asbroadly as possible inview yof theprior art.

,1.l A stereobliquenblindfspantoglaph resolver comprising supports for the mounting of.;oblique aerial photographs, a -plurality of pivotally mounted-blades adapted to traverse a photograph on its respective support, a support for a plotting sheet, a manually operated plotting carriage wanted, to be4 movedoversaid p1 nmgsheet-sup port, plotting arms slidably mouL ed in saiLcar-r riage, one of saidarms beingco-axially mounted on a pivotof'one'of said'- blades; means for varying the angular setting between said co-axially mounted arm and blade, a second plotting arm beingmounted .on a movablepivot, means connecting said movable pivot with av parallel pivot carrying :said second blade,.means mountedon Said second blade pivot for varying the setting between said second blade and said second plotting arm, and means for simultaneously viewing photographs on each of said supports for producing a composite map in true plan form.

2. An apparatus for resolving a plurality of oblique aerial photographs including means for simultaneously viewing two of such photographs to form virtual images, in combination with two photograph supports, two blades, a pivotal bearing shaft for each blade comprising upper and lower members coupled together to permit relative rotation, a common frame structure for supporting said bearing shafts with their axes parallel, means for adjustably clamping each blade to an upper shaft member, a slotted arm secured to each of the upper shaft members, an adjusting arm provided with shaft clamping means on each of said lower shaft members, pairs of links pivotally mounted on each of said lower shaft members connected by transverse spacers, a tangent adjusting screw with an opposing spring pressed plunger -mounted in said spacers and adapted to bear against said adjusting arms and provide a means for a critical adjustment of said shafts with respect to said links, means for transmitting movement from said lower shaft members through said pairs of links to said slotted arms carried by said upper shaft members, one of said shafts being provided with an axial bore, a transparent plug provided with centering means in the lower member for use in centering the shaft over f a selected mark, and a plotting arm coupled to said lower hollow shaft whereby movement is transmitted from said plotting arm through said lower hollow shaft and said links and arm to the companion upper hollow shaft and thereby cause one of said blades to be moved, a spacer link concentrically mounted about the axis of the lower member of said second shaft, a hollow movable shaft mounted in the free end of said spacer link, an arm secured to said hollow movable shaft, a link pivotally attached to the outer end of said arm, a second arm pivoted to said second link and secured at an opposite end to said lower member of said second shaft, a clamping link, means for locking said spacer link against radial movement, a plotting arm secured to said hollow movable shaft, and a transparent plug provided with centering means in said hollow movable shaft whereby said shaft may be centered over a second selected mark and whereby the various assembled elements may be 1operatedto draw a contour map' in line.format ion-,from ,aerial oblique photo-y graphsf l.l. -A stereoblique blind lpantograph resolverlncluding two spaced: supports vfor oblique aerial photographs, -two pivotally mounted transparent bladesgeach provided with a `central `longitucvlinal hairline and each, adapted to Vtra-verse one of -said photograph supports,.a,support fora plotting sheet, ;a'1-man ually operated y plotting carriage adapted to be moved overifsaid plotting sheet y support,` two plotting; arms each vslidablyv mounted in said carriagegone of said armsbeing co-axially mounted on `a1 pivot of;4 one oft-said blades, means for vary-ingtthe angularsetting between said co axially mounted arm-.and blade,.a second `plot-v ting arm mounted ong-a .movable pivot, means connecting saidgmovable pivot with a parallel pivot carryingsaid second blade,v means for varying the angularposition of said second blade with respect .to said second 'plottingarm and a. stereoscopi@r viewer lfor simultaneouslyviewing two photographs each,mounted,;,on one of said sup;- ports and properly positioned with respect to common points of known geographic positions for producing a composite map in true plan form.

4. An apparatus for resolving a plurality of oblique aerial photographs including a support for a plotting sheet, a plotting carriage having a marking element adapted to traverse said plotting sheet support, two plotting arms mounted to slide in said carriage, steroscopic means for simultaneously viewing photographs which include common terrain, two transparent blades each having a longitudinal hair line pivotally mounted adjacent to the stereoscopic means for simultaneously scanning identical points on said photographs with the aid of said stereoscopic means, and compensating means for adjusting said scanning means for the angle of tilt of the photographs.

5. An apparatus for plotting from a plurality of oblique aerial photographs with the aid of a viewing stereoscope, the improvement which includes two spaced photograph supports, two spaced transparent blades, each provided with a longitudinal hairline and each blade pivotally mounted to be swung over and in a plane parallel with one of said photograph supports, a plotting arm mounted on the same axis as the first of said blades, a second plotting arm mounted on a movable pivot, the pivotal axis of this movable pivot being parallel to the pivotal axis of the second of said blades, a compensating means for adjustably coupling said first blade with said first plotting arm to correspond with the angle of tilt of a rst photograph, a second compensating means for adjustably coupling said second blade with said second plotting arm to correspond with the angle of tilt of a second photograph, a mount for a mapping sheet, a plotting carriage provided with a hollow sleeve and with grooves for slidably engaging said plotting arms, and a mapping sheet marking means mounted on said plotting carriage.

6. An apparatus for resolving from a plurality of oblique aerial photographs a composite map in true plan form with the aid of a viewing stereoscope, which includes two lspaced photograph supports, a support for a plotting sheet, a plotting carriage provided with map marking means and with a hollow sleeve and grooves, two spaced transparent blades each provided with a longitudinal hairline and each pivotally mounted to be swung over one of said photograph supports, a

first plotti-ng arm pivotally mounted ontheaxis of the i'irs't'osaid blades, means `for coupling said first blade with said iirst plotting arm,-a second plotting arm pvotally `mounted on the axis of the second ofsaid blades, and a second 'means for coupling said second blade with lsaid second plotting arm, and means for adjusting each` of said coupling means to compensate for theangle of tilt ofthe photographs, said plotting. carriage slidably coupling the intersecting ends ofsaid plotting'arms.

'1.v An apparatus for resolving a plurality o1?4 -i22 mounted lon the anisoffa'seeond of said blades, a second compensa-ting means fon adjustablycoiii@ pling saidseeond pladfwith lsaid '.second plotting arm `to correspond to the angie of tilt of. a second photogixftph,l a parallelogram element 4voloerati'ile'lsal connected withfsaid second plotting arlm, a plot;

ting carriage slidably connected with said two plotting arms which converge ito aoommon poi-nt, and a mark-ing.l element mounted .-in saidv plotting carriage. Y- f JAMES G.

JAM-ss BUeKMAsffna. v.

.REFERENCES @man The foliowi g refereneslare 'of record in 

